When the stars align

Euphoria's shadow

As the others continued talking in the living room, Jimin's gaze lingered on the closed door of Taehyung's room. There had been something off about him-something in his eyes that Jimin couldn't ignore.

Excusing himself, Jimin walked down the hall and knocked softly on Taehyung's door. "Tae? It's me."

There was a pause, followed by a muffled, "I'm fine, Jimin-ah. You don't need to worry."

Jimin frowned. He recognized the tone, the way Taehyung's voice wavered just slightly. Without waiting for permission, he turned the knob and stepped inside.

Taehyung was sitting on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped together tightly. He didn't look up when Jimin entered, but Jimin could see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight.

"Tae," Jimin said softly, closing the door behind him. He walked over and sat down beside him, their shoulders almost touching. "What's going on?"

Taehyung shook his head, his eyes fixed on the floor. "Nothing. I just... I'm tired."

"Tired doesn't look like this," Jimin countered gently. "Talk to me."

For a moment, Taehyung didn't respond. The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing. Then, finally, Taehyung's voice came, low and filled with pain.

"She's getting married, and I just can't help but feel gloomy. The weight in my chest it's feeling too much, Jimin."

Jimin blinked, taken aback by the rawness of the words. He stayed quiet, letting Taehyung continue.
"I told her to move on. I told her it was the right thing to do, that she deserved someone who could give her everything. But now that it's happening..." Taehyung's voice cracked, and he swallowed hard, his hands trembling. "I can't stand it."

Jimin's heart ached for his friend. He placed a comforting hand on Taehyung's back, rubbing soothing circles. "Tae, you've been holding this in for too long. You love her, don't you?"

Taehyung nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I do. More than I ever thought I could. But what can I do, Jimin? What can I possibly do now?"

Jimin stayed quiet for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "You did what you thought was best for her, but that doesn't mean it's easy. And it's okay to feel this way. It's okay to hurt."

Taehyung let out a bitter laugh, wiping at his eyes. "Hurting doesn't even begin to cover it. Reading her messages, hearing her talk about him... I wanted to tell her to stop, to choose me instead. But I couldn't. I can't."

Jimin squeezed his shoulder gently. "Because you care about her enough to put her happiness above your own."

Taehyung looked at him then, his eyes filled with anguish. "But what if... what if letting her go isn't what makes her happy? What if I made the wrong choice?"

Jimin sighed, leaning back slightly. "Tae, love is complicated. There's no right or wrong choice. There's just what you feel in your heart. And if you feel like there's something left to say, something she needs to know... maybe you should tell her. Before it's too late."

Taehyung stared at him, the weight of Jimin's words sinking in. The thought terrified him-reaching out to San again, confessing everything he had kept hidden. But as he sat there, his heart pounding in his chest, he couldn't deny that a part of him wanted that too, desperately.

For now, though, he simply leaned against Jimin, grateful for the quiet comfort his friend offered. The storm inside him hadn't passed, but at least, at this moment, he didn't have to face it alone.